Selanna’s sporting career takes a nightmarish turn

Selanna, a Curro Nelspruit pupil, who made her mark as a great athlete, will no longer be competing in any sport.

She suffered from Osgood-Schlatter disease (a repetitive-use injury that causes a painful lump below the kneecap) during the 2015 athletics season.

After treating the disease, Selanna discovered that she struggled to focus on her schoolwork and that she felt weak all the time.

“We went to see a few doctors, but none of them could pick up what later would have had such a big impact on my life. I love sport, especially running, and have spent the past seven years participating in all types of sport,” said Selanna.

Early 2016, Selanna started practising for biathle and competed for Gauteng. During the Gauteng Championships, she placed second. Two weeks before the South African Championships she was admitted to hospital.

“There was just no way that I could compete. That day it became clear that I will never be able to train like I used to. It was my dream to get selected to represent my country at the world champs. I trained my heart out and I wanted to be able to compete at that level. It was heartbreaking to see my brother Asher get selected and I had to stay behind.”

In grade eight she was presented with the victrix ludorum trophy at Curro’s Interhouse meeting, but spiralled down very quickly. She was hospitalised four times in 2016, causing her to miss the June and November exams.

She had to withdraw for the remainder of the 2017 athletics season. Having been selected to represent Mpumalanga hockey since grade four, she yet again made the provincial team last year.

“In a way I have made peace with the fact that I’ll have to put athletics aside, but after I had to stop practising hockey, I was devastated.”

She has gained 11 kilograms since she has been diagnosed with Hashies. She had to change her whole lifestyle – no gluten, no dairy, no soya and no corn.

“I would have not coped without Jesus. The last two years, I have spent praying I will be healed, and gaining as well as losing hope. Winning and being popular is not everything. But I hope to be able to enjoy it again one day.”

From winning sportswoman of the year three years consecutively, as well as victrix ludorum, winning Mpumalanga Track Championships and claiming the Mpumalanga Cross-Country title, attending South African Championships, captaining her school’s hockey team, provincial and Curro National hockey team, she now has to walk away from all of it.

“I have left the school I love for homeschooling so that I can work at my own pace. It’s only the Lord and the love of my family that gets me through and gives me hope.”